Description

PRODUCT OF ARC WELDING Original Filed Jan. 9, 1952 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 United PRODUCT F ARC WELDING Chester D. Mott, Evanston, IlL, assignor to Fansteel Metallurgical Corporation, a corporation of New York Claims. (Cl. MS -74) This invention relates to the art of arc welding and particularly to an article of tantalum having atantalum weld.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial Number 265,688, filed January 9, 1952.

As is known, at temperatures in excess of about 400 degrees C. it is necessary to protect tantalum against contamination and its tendency to react with gases, vapors and other metals. The high melting point of tantalum, about 3000 degrees (3., together with the strong tendency of hot solid or molten tantalum to alloy with, or be contaminated by, other metals, solids and gases, makes it impossible to use known welding technique.

The above characteristics of tantalum to combine chemically with other elements and compounds has even made it necessary to obtain metallic tantalum from its ores in a manner different from the conventional methods of handling metals such as iron, copper and the like. Because of its great afiinity for other elements, it has been necessary to rely upon powder metallurgy technique, in processing tantalum. Thus pressed tantalum bars must be sintered in a high vacuum to prevent absorption of gas and production of brittle, non-ductile tantalum. The tantalum metal itself must be cold-worked and maintained below about 400 degrees C. Whatever annealing of tantalum is necessary, to eliminate the cold work hardening of the metal, must be done in a vacuum or in an inert atmosphere.

The inability to produce satisfactory welds of tantalum metal has greatly militated against the more extensive use of this metal. Thus the use of tantalum has been restricted generally to comparatively thin and small articles. As an example, electrodes, such as anodes for vacuum tubes, have been made of sheet tantalum metal. The metal used for making such electrodes is thin and has been welded after a fashion. Resistance welding under Water of thin tantalum sheets has been used in connection with the manufacture of such vacuum tube anodes. An alternative method of welding has relied upon an arc with a carbon electrode, the are being immersed in a nonoxidizing liquid such as carbon tetrachloride.

Welds resulting from the above methods have been unsatisfactory because of brittleness, gas pockets and lack of strength. Such welds are, in general, so weak and brittle that it is impossible to work the welded article Without danger of fracturing the weld.

Attempts have also been made to apply conventional inert atmosphere welding techniques to tantalum welding. Such attempts, however, have been fraught with failure and have produced welds which were generally no better than the welds previously described.

This invention makes it possible to obtain continuous welds of any desired length and extent, the welds having substantially the same physical characteristics of ductility, flexibility and toughness as characterize annealed metallic tantalum. The new and improved method provides anew Weld characterized by a density and crystalline structure generally resembling the main body of tantalum ice metal, and an article or sheet containing the weld may be handled and worked upon in any desired manner as if the Weld did not exist.

The new method contemplates the maintenance of a gently moving inert atmosphere enveloping all molten and hot tantalum during arc welding thereof with a suitable electrode, the tantalum itself being physically separated, while it is molten or hot, from any contaminating solid material. The inert atmosphere should move slowly enough at the surface of the molten pool of tantalum so that surface chilling of the pool is avoided. Yet the movement of inert atmosphere should suffice to purge, and maintain purged, the gaseous atmosphere in which the molten and hot tantalum lies, of impurities originating in the electrode or Weld material. The pressure of the inert atmosphere should be low, just enough above atmospheric pressure to prevent leakage of air into the inert welding atmosphere.

In the case of tantalum, an inert atmosphere may be provided by using any one or a mixture of inert monatomic gases, such as argon, helium, neon, krypton or zenon. Of these gases, helium is preferred for the reason that it is readily available. Furthermore, helium has desirable cooling properties, this being useful when the helium bathes the surface of the hot but finished Weld.

The region where the welding occurs, if confined, must be designed so that no dead or stagnant gas pockets can form. In my invention, the entire welding region is washed by an ever changing inert atmosphere. For the maintenance of a proper inert atmosphere, it is preferred to introduce the inert gas at a number of spaced points within the region to be occupied by the gas. In the event that there are no hermetic seals between relatively movable partsthis being the usual conditionit is preferred that any inert gas introduced in the vicinity of such region have a velocity which is so low as to avoid aspirating air into the confined region to be filled with an inert atmosphere. The slow gas velocity may be obtained by providing a sufficiently large inlet area into the confined region so that a sufficient volume of gas can be introduced.

An electrode of material which is relatively stable under welding conditions must be used. Such an electrode should have as high a melting point and as low a vapor pressure as possible under welding conditions. As a result, consumption of the electrode during welding is reduced to a minimum. In tantalum welding, such elec trode may consist of tungsten or tantalum, preferably the former. The arc is preferably a direct current are with the electrode functioning as a cathode. The requirement for a direct current arc, however, does not necessarily mean that the current must be free from substantial ripple. The ripple component may be as great as desired and in practice, rectified alternating current without filtering is sufficient.

Generally, it is preferred to initiate the arc in space between the electrode and the weld metal, such as tantalum, without physical contact between the electrode and weld metal. Various means for accomplishing this are known, these generally involving the use of high frequency, high potential discharges to initiate an are, after which a conventional low voltage are will be established and may be maintained. The are potential will depend upon the nature of the inert atmosphere. With helium, for example, the arc potential will be around 18-25 volts.

In conventional Welding, there is provided a chill bar or chill plate of suitable material upon which the parts being welded are disposed and supported. This chill bar or chill plate not only functions in a mechanical sense for supporting and clamping purposes, but also provides heat radiating means for dissipating some of the heat generated during welding.

Because of the high melting point of tantalum and be cause of the great afiinity that tantalum, as elevated temperature, has for metals and solids generally, I have dispensed with such chill bar or chill plate. Instead, I prefer to arrange the tantalum to be welded in such a manner that the tantalum metal is self supporting at the region of weld and for a sufiicient distance from the weld, so that the tantalum is free of support by other material so long as its temperature is high enough to enable it to react with, or alloy with, solid metals and materials.

It is evident from the absence of a chill plate in tantalum welding, that substantially all of the heat at the weld must be dissipated either by conduction through the tantalum or to the inert atmosphere or by radiation. Inasmuch as is conventional welding a substantial amount of heat is dissipated by conduction through the chill plate, such conventional welding can tolerate substantial variations in heat energy input to the weld. In the case of tantalum welding, and particularly where thin stock is involved, some care will have to be exercised to prevent excessive melting of tantalum. This may be accomplished by controlling the electric energy to the are or by controlling the speed of welding, if continuous welding is involved, or both.

Because of the capillary force existing at the surface of the molten pool of tantalum between the tantalum edges being welded, substantial variation in the size of the pool is possible without serious impairment of the character of the weld. Hence the maintenance of proper are conditions is not difiicult.

The welding of tantalum differs markedly from the welding of other metals and alloys in the manner in which the opposing edges or surfaces to be welded are handled. As is well known, conventional welding technique makes it necessary for the parts being welded to be clamped or tightly pressed together. In distinction to this, the welding of tantalum is unique in that clamping of opposed edges to be welded is not only unnecessary but undesirable. I have found that during the welding of tantalum, powerful forces are created tending to pull the opposing edges at the weld together. These forces are sufiiciently strong so that during the progress of a weld, there is a tendency, particularly when thin sheets are involved, for one sheet to climb over and overlap the other sheet. This pulling together is made use of in one of the new methods of welding by leading the opposed edges toward each other at a slight angle whereby a straight weld with aligned edges results.

For the first time, it is now possible to obtain a tantalum weld and tantalum welded article, the weld portion of which has substantially the same physical characteristics of density, toughness and ductility as annealed tantalum.

In order that the invention may be explained, exemplary embodiments of apparatus with which the new methods may be practiced and also finished welds of tantalum will now be described; it is understood, however, that the drawings merely show examples and that substantial variations may be made depending upon conditions encountered and upon the metal being welded.

Referring therefore to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in diagrammatic form, illustrating apparatus with which a method of butt welding may be practiced;

Figure 2 is a section upon line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 2A is a detail of a finished butt weld;

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section, of a mechanism with which a method of welding tantalum pipe may be used;

Figure 4 is a front view of the mechanism of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a detail of a piece of welded tantalum pipe; and

Figure 7 is a sectional detail on line 7-7 of Figure 3, showing the hold-down block.

' material for proper welding.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, sheets or plates 1 and 2. are of the metal to be welded. Thus, sheets 1 and 2 may be of tantalum. These sheets are supported upon suitable plates 3 of iron, copper, brass or any other desired material. It is understood that the portions of sheets I and 2, which are to be welded, are clean and free of dirt, grease, or the like. These portions, and in fact the neighboring portions which are likely to become hot, are preferably cleaned with emery cloth or wire brush or any other suitable means so that the metal surface is clean.

Support plate or bed 3 may have any desired configuration, depending upon the dimensions of sheets 1 and 2, the gauge of metal and other factors as cooling means for support 3. However, support 3 is provided with longitudinal groove 4 for a substantial distance below the weld line so that material 3 will not be in physical contact with sheets 1 and 2 at the welding point and for as long as the weld junction remains hot enough to be contaminated by other metals or materials. In general, however, support 3 should be so designed and groove or channel 4 should be so dimensioned that the portions of sheets 1 and 2 which are being handled for welding are self-supporting. It is preferred, generally, to have groove 4 symmetrical with respect to the weld junction although this is not essential.

Sheets 1 and 2 have opposed edges 1a and 2a which are to be welded together. The opposed edges 1a and 2a are preferably disposed at an angle toward each other, the edges intersecting at or near the welding regions and the edges diverging from each other away from the weld region and in advance thereof. This angle may vary within limits, depending upon the gauge of metal; but in general, in the case of tantalum, the angle is small and is of the order of about one degree. Suitable means for holding the sheets at cool portions may be provided to maintain their position.

Support member 3 is provided with inlet 5 immediately below the welding region and this inlet 5 together with pipe 6 permits of the introduction of inert gas in region or groove 4. It is not necessary to have the chamber formed by groove 4 hermetically sealed. This means that sheets 1 and 2 may simply rest upon support plates 3 and may be moved relatively thereto as welding progresses.

Supported over sheets 1 and 2 and defining a welding region is hood 7 of suitable material. Such material may be of metal, such as steel or copper, or of quartz or high melting glass such as a borosilicate glass sold in the trade under the name of Vycor. As shown, hood 7 lies over a portion of the opposed edges 1a and 2a. Suitably supported by hood 7 is electrode-retainer 8, preferably of metal such as iron or copper. Electrode-retainer 8 supports electrode 9 therein, this electrode being of suitable In the case of tantalum welding, electrode 9 is preferably of tungsten though tantalum may be used. Both metals have low vapor pressures and high melting points. Electrode-retainer 8 is preferably so designed as to maintain electrode 9 in predetermined position and provides chamber 10 around a substantial portion of the electrode with the electrode tip portion protruding below mouth 12 of the electrodeholder. It is understood that electrode 9 is electrically insulated from sheets 1 and 2, as by choice of hood material or electrode mounting. Electrode holder 8 has coupled thereto gas conduit 13, this being adapted to supply inert gas to chamber 10, formed by electrode-holder 8, such inert gas flowing down around the lower portion of the electrode and emerging inside the hood through mouth 12.

It is preferred to dispose electrode-holder 8 and electrode 9 so that they pass through the top wall of hood 7 and extend down toward the work. However, other arrangements of electrode-holder and electrode are possible and may be used.

Hood 7 is provided with gas supply pipe 14, this pipe preferably passing through a part of the hood spaced from the'immediate region of the are. In all cases, no chilling blast of gas should be directed at the molten pool.

Gas pipes 6, 13 and 14 are connected through suitable valves 6a, 13a and 14a to manifold 15. Manifold 15 is supplied with inert gas from container 15a, the inert gas supply system also including gas dryer 16 of suitable construction. It is necessary that the inert gas be substantially pure and free of moisture since that is a contaminant.

The various regions defined by hood 7 and chamber 4 in which there is an inert atmosphere for enveloping hot tantalum should be so designed that all tantalum at or above about 400 degrees C. shall remain in the protecting inert atmosphere. Thus, if the temperature of the tantalum beyond the region of support by member 3 is above about 400 degrees C., then it will be necessary to design an enclosure for the inert atmosphere which will cover support 3.

In all cases of welding of tantalum, two sources of contamination of tantalum may be present. One source is the atmosphere in which the tantalum lies, and the critical temperature for this is about 400 degrees C. The other source is the support material for the tantalum. The critical temperature for this will vary depending upon the nature of support material and cooling provisions, but in general will be well above 400 degrees C.

It is, of course, possible to provide the inert atmosphere as a free cloud of gas, without an enclosure. But it will be difficult to control the movement of gas along the tantalum pool and as a result there may be chilling of the pool surface. For other metals having lower melting points, the free cloud of gas may be practical.

Suitable connections are made to electrode 9 and support 3 or sheets 1 and 2, as desired. These electrical connections are supplied with welding current from source 18. Source 18 provides direct current having constant or variable potential, and the polarity is such that electrode '9 is the cathode or negative electrode. By virtue of this arrangement, most of the heat of the arc will be concentrated at the weld.

If the electrical connections are reversed, tantalum welding is inefficient and consumption of electrode material will be substantially increased. To a less degree, the same is true of alternating current. Source 18 preferably includes means for impressing an initial high potential surge between electrode 9 and plates 1 and 2 to initiate an arc. After initiation of an arc, the negative resistance characteristics of an arc permit the flow of heavy current at a comparatively low potential.

As has been generally pointed out before, in the case of tantalum welding, the metal at the weld, indicated by 19 in Figure 1, tends to shrink and pull in toward each other the opposing edges of sheets 1 and 2. Because of this tendency, it is preferred to feed edges 1a and 2a toward each other at a slight angle whereby this tendency results in abutting welded edges. It is, of course, possible to have edges 1a and 2a abut as in normal welding of iron or the like and apply suitable force to sheets 1 and 2, as by clamps, to prevent relative movement of the sheets and avoid overlap.

During welding, it is necessary for the arc to progress along edges 1a and 2a, which are to be welded. This progression may be obtained by moving either hood 7 and its accessories, with respect to sheets 1 and 2, or moving sheets 1 and 2 with repsect to hood 7, or both. Once welding conditions have reached an equilibrium, it will be found that the arc may travel along the edges to be welded at a steady rate to produce a continuous, homogeneous line weld. The rate at which the arc travels with respect to the opposed edges will depend upon the intensity of the arc. Thus, within limits, the greater the arc intensity the faster the arc may travel along the surface of the metal.

During welding, inert gas is fed to pipes 6, 13, and 14, this inert gas leaking out from groove 4 and from hood 7 If the temperature of tantalum sheets 1 and 2 is too high for hood 7 to rest upon them, the hood may be suspended to provide a slight clearance. It is understood that an inert atmosphere, both above and below sheets land 2 near the weld region, will be provided prior to initiation of any arc. It is necessary that the inert gas fed into electrode-holder 8 travel at a sufliciently low velocity to prevent aspiration of air around electrode 9. Also it is important that the inert gas emerging at mouth 12 travel slowly enough so that no cold blast of inert gas will be directed at the molten pool immediately below the electrode tip and thus cause the surface thereof to be chilled. Because of the high temperature of the molten pool, preheating of the inert gas will accomplish little. For other metals having a lower melting point, preheating may be beneficial.

As is true of welding generally, it is necessary that molten metal cool from the bottom, if a good strong weld is to result. It is possible to adjust gas valves 611, 13a and 14a so that slow slow trickles of gas enter the welding region around the arc and travel throughout the region beneath hood 7 and groove 4. Thus the inert gas washes away any gas or vapor impurities generated by or be cause of the arc.

I have found that, using helium in the case of tantalum welding, a gas flow of between about one-half and about two and one-half cubic feet per second is adequate. Best results are secured by using approximately the median value of this gas flow. The pressure of the gas is just enough above atmospheric pressure so that the inert gas will prevent air from flowing to the hot metal, the inert gas itself leaking out slowly to atmosphere. Thus a pressure of one or two inches of water is satisfactory. With.

gases other than helium and having inferior cooling properties, it may be found that a somewhat greater flow of gas may be tolerated without adverse effects on the molten pool of tantalum.

The finished weld itself will be found generally to have.

a thickness somewhat greater than the thickness of sheets 1 and 2, assuming these sheets to be of equal thickness and that no additional metal is supplied. This is shown in Figure 2A, where sheets 1 and 2 have been welded. The top surface of weld 19 is generally flush with the top surfaces of the sheets. The bottom surface of weld 19 bulges downwardly. The weld surface has a silvery, smooth sheen and gives the appearance of having been polished. Physically, the weld is dense and tough and is similar to annealed tantalum. The crystals in the weld are somewhat longer than in annealed sheet tantalum.

In the course of Welding, there is created a pool of molten tantalum which is supported between the opposed edge portions of tantalum. It is my belief that the force due to surface tension of the liquid tantalum is high so that the pool will tend to maintain itself in position in spite of substantial variations in pool size. If too large an area of tantalum is melted, the pool will not be selfsupporting. However, if the pool does not extend through the thickness of the tantalum, then the entire thickness of tantalum metal at the joint may not be welded. In such case, it is possible to butt weld the edges of the tantalum on one side of the sheets for a certain depth of the tantalum sheets. Thereafter, the sheets may be turned over and welding accomplished on the other side of the abutting edges so that the entire thickness of the tantalum metal will be welded.

The general method of welding tantalum is applicable to the manufacture of tantalum tube or pipe. Tantalum tube or pipe may be used under conditions where extreme temperatures are encountered. Under such conditions, substantial stresses and strains are generated in assists 7 pipe. Unless the metal at the weld is as tough, ductile and strong as the remaining pipe metal and has substantially the same physical characteristics as the remaining pipe metal, serious distortion of the pipe may occur. If the weld at the pipe under such conditions is weaker than the body of the metal, then the weld may open at this region and destroy the pipe. It is clear, therefore, that there will be little or no advantage to the use of welded tantalum pipe or tube under conditions where tantalum must be used, it the seam or weld is not as strong and as reliable as the body of the pipe. In order to make such seamed tube or pipe out of sheet tantalum, a continuous line welding method is used. This method will now be described in connection with Figures 3, 4, and 7.

Referring to these figures, the apparatus with which the continuous line welding method may be used comprises base upon which there is rigidly secured die block 46. Die block 46 is of suitable metal such as iron, steel, copper or any suitable alloy, or of quartz or glass, and has bed or channel 47 therein upon which the lower portion of the tantalum pipe material rests.

Die block 46 has longitudinal channel or open region 48 along which there is ample clearance for the pipe weld to lie. As is true of the methods previously described, it is necessary in the case of tantalum pipe welding to have the opposed tantalum metal edge portions clear of all other material and self-supporting so long as the tantalum is at a sufficiently high temperature to alloy with or be contaminated by other materials. It follows, therefore, that the clearance on both sides of the seam line at the pipe will depend in a measure upon how well the heat is dissipated. Thus, if die block 46 is of metal having high heat conductivity, and if the die block is provided with radiating fins or adequate cooling facilities, then heat conduction from the hot tantalum may be sufficient so that the clearances transversely of the seam line need not be great. However, since the metal is curved and has substantial strength, adequate support for the metal and pipe in the neighborhood of the weld region, and for a distance beyond, may be provided by i simply having a curved channel upon which the lower half of the pipe may be supported.

Die block 46 has hold-down block 49 attached thereto and extending across the opposed tantalum metal edges and in advance of the Welding electrode and welding region. Block 49 is of suitable material as metal or quartz or glass and has bottom face 50 provided with a central rib 50a extending down between the opposed pipe blank edges, so that the tantalum metal for forming the pipe seam may be maintained in predetermined position preparatory to welding. Block 49 is sufiiciently removed from the weld point so that contamination of the tantalum from the block will not occur.

Ahead of hold-down block 49, in the direction of travel of the pipe, is aligning fin or blade 51 supported by block 52. Aligning fin 51 consists of a thin blade of metal such as steel and extends downwardly through the gap between the opposed separated edges a and 55b of pipe metal blank 55. Fin 51 functions to maintain the opposed tantalum metal edges in predetermined relative spaced position in preparation for welding, the thickness of the blade being such as to guide the opposed metal edges at an angle toward the welding region. As in Figure 1, the angle is small, being about 1 degree for thin tantalum stock.

Disposed inside of pipe blank 55 and located at a suitably cool spot, as between aligning fin 51 and holddown block 49, is piston 53 of suitable construction. Thus this piston may consist of flexible element 54 of metal such as copper, or of asbestos or other material depending upon the temperature, clamped between nuts 54a and 56 threaded on pipe 57. Pipe 57 extends for a distance in advance of the Welding region and is adapted to be supplied with inert gas. The inert gas within pipe 57 is discharged from end 57a of the pipe within the 58 having a generally cylindrical shape but having the end tantalum pipe blank. The pressure of the inert gas is sufficient to purge the interior of the pipe blank up to and beyond the welding region of impurities in a manner similar to the methods previously described. It will be understood that piston 53 is stationary with respect to die block 46 during the normal welding operation and that,

pipe blank 55 is fed from left to right as seen in Figure 5. Disposed over the top of die block 46 is welding hood thereof complementarily shaped to cooperate with the die block to provide a generally closed region for the pipe blank. Hood 58 may beof any suitable material such as metal or glass. Piston 53 is shown as just below the edge of hood 58 so that inert gas escaping up through the short length of uuwelded pipe will go into the hood. Suitably supported within hood 58 is electrode-holder 59 which may be generally similar to holder 29 in Figure 4. Hood 53 and holder 59 have inlets Sea and 60 for inert gas and holder 59 insulatingly supports welding electrode 62. Electrode 62 extends axially of holder 59, the electrode projecting beyond throat 63 to a point just above the surface of the pipe metal. Assuming that a suitable arc has been initiated between the electrode and tantalum pipe blank as previously described, opposed edges 55a and 55b of tantalum Will be welded below the tip of electrode 62. Means not shown will move the pipe blank at a steady rate past the welding region.

In order to protect the part of the welded pipe, which is still hot, from damage by contamination with either gas or solid material, ring portion 7% of the die block is formed to provide a completely sealed region around the pipe. Carried by ring portion 71'] of the die block is hose 71 of suitable flexible material such as asbestos cloth or metal foil. Hose 71 has its end 72 provided with washer '73 through which the cooled end of the formed pipe may pass. The atmosphere Within hose 71 will be inert and inlet pipe 75 is provided for this purpose.

The inert gas supplied through the various pipes will leak out to atmosphere through the end of the completed pipe, around the outside of the completed pipe at the washer for hose 71 and through the gap in the metal in the pipe blank just ahead of the welding region. It is preferred to have the welded pipe fit loosely within the die block 46 and ring part 79. There may be clearance between the shield edge and top part of the Welded pipe. Thus, any space between the outside of shield 58 and ring portion 7% will be filled by leaking inert gas so that the hot tantalum will still remain protected. It is possible to omit either or both of inert gas pipes 60 and 75 and rely upon leakage to maintain the inert atmosphere within head 58 and hose 71.

Supporting standard 76 and sheet 76a are provided for supporting gas feed pipe 57. Successive lengths of pipe blanks may be fed through and adjacent pipe ends may then be welded as previously described, to form endless pipe of desired size and thickness.

It will be clear that the hot tantalum will be fully protected by an inert atmosphere on both sides of the metal. The maintenance of a slowly moving inert atmosphere is as necessary in the pipe welding method as in the methods for sheet welding.

'In all cases where tantalum is being Welded, the region containing any tantalum to be heated will be purged of contaminating gases and vapors and will be filled with an inert atmosphere. This inert atmosphere will move through the welding region so that gaseous impurities Will be removed from the welding region and discharged. The moving inert atmosphere should be provided before the arc has been initiated and after the arc has been extinguished so that the tantalum will be heated, will remain hot and will be cooled in an inert atmosphere down to a safe temperature below about 400 degrees C.

In general, the nature or the inert atmosphere for making tantalnrnpipe, inert electrode and welding current supply are all similar to the corresponding factors in the preceding methods.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a length of tantalum tube 80 having welded seam 81. As with the weld shown in Figure 2A, the metal at seam 81 is dense, tough, ductile and homogeneous. The thickness of the wall at the seam is slightly greater than the remaining wall thickness.

Complex welds are also possible by the method described here. Thus one pipe may have its end welded into another pipe to form a T or V. In such case, the opposing metal edges must be prepared so that they complement each other. By having good matching of edges to be welded, the methods of welding described before may be readily adapted to obtain good results, both structurally and appearance-wise.

l. A tantalum article having two portions of tantalum Welded along :a continuous line, the weld consisting solely of tantalum and being dense, homogeneous, substantially free of gas pockets, and having substantially the same characteristic toughness, ductility and susceptibility to cold-working as are characteristic of the tantalum beyond the weld, said tantalum at the weld having somewhat longer crystals than is true of the main body of unwelded tantalum.

2. A tantalum tube having a continuous longitudinal welded seam, said welded seam consisting of pure metallic tantalum, the tantalum at the weld being dense, homogeneous, substantially free of gas pockets, and having substantially the same characteristic toughness, ductility and susceptibility to cold-working as are characteristic of the unwelded body of metallic tantalum, the tantalum at the weld having somewhat longer crystals than is true of the main body of unwelded tantalum.

3. A tantalum article having a tantalum weld along a substantially continuous line, the weld consisting of tantalum metal characterized by being dense, homogeneout, substantially free of any gas pockets, and having substantially the same characteristic toughness, ductility and susceptibility to cold-working as the annealed portion of tantalum metal beyond the tantalum weld, said tantalum at the weld having somewhat longer crystals than the crystals in the annealed, unwelded portion of the tantalum article.

4. A tantalum article having at least two portions of tantalum welded along a substantially continuous line, the weld consisting essentially of tantalum metal characterized by being dense, homogeneous, substantially free of any gas pockets, and having substantially the same characteristic toughness, ductility and susceptibility to cold-working as the annealed portion of the tantalum metal beyond the weld, said tantalum at the weld having somewhat longer crystals than the crystals of the annealed, unwelded tantalum portion of the main body.

5. A tantalum tube having a substantially continuous longitudinally welded seam portion, said welded seam consisting essentially of tantalum metal characterized by being dense, homogeneous, substantially free of any gas pockets, and having substantially the same characteristic toughness, ductility and susceptibility to cold-working as the annealed portion of tantalum metal beyond the tantalum weld, said tantalum at the weld having somewhat longer crystals than the crystals in the annealed, unwelded portion of the tantalum tube.

Claims (1)

1. A TANTALUM ARTICLE HAVING TWO PORTIONS OF TANTALUM WELDED ALONG A CONTINUOUS LINE, THE WELD CONSISTING SOLELY OF TANTALUM AND BEING DENSE, HOMOGENEOUS, SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF GAS POCKETS, AND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME CHARACTERISTIC TOUGHNESS, DUCTILITY AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO COLD-WORKING AS ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE TANTALUM BEYOND THE WELD,SAID TANTALUM AT THE WELD HAVING SOMEWHAT LONGER CRYSTALS THAN IS TRUE OF THE MAIN BODY OF UNWELDED TANTALUM.